Lorenzo Lamas from ‘Falcon Crest’: Age, height, family, children, net worth

You could say Lorenzo Lamas was always destined to become an actor. His parents worked in the industry, and it didn’t take long before he entered it himself.

Lamas has starred in classics such as the television series Falcon Crest and the legendary film Grease. Still to this day, the California native is working as an actor – and at 65, he looks terrific!

However, Lamas’s life has had its ups and downs, and he’s gone through some rather tough times. Here’s all you need to know about Lorenzo and the many struggles he’s overcome. 

One was getting over the fact that his son had an affair with his ex-wife.

Lorenzo Lamas
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Even as a young kid, Lorenzo Lamas’s stars had aligned where acting was concerned.

Born Lorenzo Fernando Lamas on January 20, 1958, in Santa Monica, California, he was raised by his mother Arlene Dahl, an American actress of Norwegian descent, and his father Fernando Lamas, an Argentinian who worked as an actor and director.

Lorenzo Lamas – early life

Lorenzo grew up in the fashionable area of Pacific Palisades, California. At age two, his parents divorced, and eight years later, he moved to New York with his father.

Lorenzo has often drawn upon the fact that his family comes from different parts of the world. He once starred as Dracula in a Halloween production of the famous Bram Stoker novel and had no problem at all adopting a different accent.

“I grew up with a man who had a voice like Dracula and every other bigger-than-life character you could ever think of in my father,” he told the New York Times in 2007. “I take a little bit from him to do the accent. I’ve also done four movies in Bulgaria.”

While Lorenzo was transitioning from a kid into a young man, his father had a pretty wild lifestyle. According to Lorenzo, his father had “been with every woman.” Yet as a child, he adored him.

“I idolized my father, especially as a young boy. He was bigger than life. He commanded the room. He’d done everything, seen everything,” he told Fox. “It’s pretty heady stuff to grow up with.”

Lorenzo Lamas
Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)

“He was Latin, he was very judgmental, he thought a woman’s place was in the kitchen. He just happened to marry a woman who was a top ten box office star of the ’50s, and she retired to serve him!”

First work in acting

Lorenzo’s father married actress Esther Williams in 1969, a year after their move to “The Big Apple,” and life for Lorenzo got tough at times. For example, when Esther’s children visited, Lorenzo wasn’t even allowed to sleep in the house!

“He was many things, but he was also fair, so if he wasn’t going to allow another man’s children in his house, then he couldn’t allow me in the house,” he recalled.

“So my roommate was a Rolls Royce. I had a key that let me in the backdoor where there was a guest bathroom. But I came from military school, so living in a garage in Beverly Hills was plush to me. I had shared a urinal with 30 guys for the last four years. Looking back, I know that’s not normal. I know that I would never do that to my kids. I run my three teenage daughters around like a chauffeur.”

Lorenzo Lamas attended private school and graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy in 1975. Instead of staying on the East Coast, he decided to leave for his home state of California.

Though his father could be a strict man, he always encouraged his son to follow his dreams and backed him wholeheartedly in pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor. Lorenzo enrolled at Tony Barr’s Film Actors Workshop. In 1977, he got his first minor role in television, starring in two episodes of the show Switch.

Lorenzo Lamas
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While cultivating his acting talent, Lorenzo also found that he had a tremendous interest in martial arts. He got in shape – and later on, earned black belts in both taekwondo and karate.

Lorenzo Lamas in ‘Grease’

Now, getting roles in bigger productions often takes time for most actors. Some have to try out at hundreds of auditions to get one part; others have to wait years, maybe even decades, to land their first role in a more significant Hollywood production.

For Lorenzo Lamas, however, this wasn’t the case. In 1978, he was cast as the good-looking stud “Tom Chisum” in the legendary film Grease, featuring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. He played the boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John’s character, “Sandy”. That said, he initially wasn’t chosen for the part.

Steven Ford – son of former President Gerald Ford – was considered for the role, but was reportedly too nervous to play “Tom”. The part had no dialogue, but that didn’t bother Lorenzo when he got the gig.

People probably knew that the film had potential at the time, but even so, it’s safe to say that Lamas secured himself an extraordinary place in film history with his relatively small credit in Grease.

“I’m amazed by the longevity. It keeps finding new generations of people,” he told Studio 10.

Lorenzo had dark hair at the time, but the producers thought he looked too much like a “T-Bird” to star as Sandy’s boyfriend. As a result, they dyed his hair lighter – something that he didn’t mind at all.

“I would have dyed it green, fuchsia, anything,” he told People.

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At the time, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were already stars. For Lorenzo Lamas, it was a dream come true just to meet them. What made the whole thing even better, was that Olivia Newton-Jon had been Lorenzo’s childhood crush.

Became a star on ‘Falcon Crest’

“I was 19. It was only the third thing I’ve ever done. And I was at the Paramount lot, meeting my childhood crush, Olivia Newton-John, and Mr. Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta. So I was kind of in a complete zombie state, to begin with,” Lorenzo recalled.

He explained that he had all her albums, and in high school, he and his friends even had routines dancing to her albums. When they finally met, Lorenzo was almost knocked off his heels.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he told Studio 10.

Grease was, of course, a big deal for Lorenzo and a fantastic opportunity when looking back. Naturally, though, it wasn’t quite a breakthrough since he only appeared in a few scenes.

In 1981, he got the role of Lance Cumson on Falcon Crest. The nighttime soap became a huge success, with Lamas starring alongside Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman for 228 episodes.

Wyman portrayed Lamas’ grandmother on the show – at that time, she was a massive Hollywood star. Lamas had problems with illegal substances at this point in his career, until one day on set, Wyman had enough of his behavior

Became a star on ‘Falcon Crest’

“I was 19. It was only the third thing I’ve ever done. And I was at the Paramount lot, meeting my childhood crush, Olivia Newton-John, and Mr. Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta. So I was kind of in a complete zombie state, to begin with,” Lorenzo recalled.

He explained that he had all her albums, and in high school, he and his friends even had routines dancing to her albums. When they finally met, Lorenzo was almost knocked off his heels.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he told Studio 10.

Grease was, of course, a big deal for Lorenzo and a fantastic opportunity when looking back. Naturally, though, it wasn’t quite a breakthrough since he only appeared in a few scenes.

In 1981, he got the role of Lance Cumson on Falcon Crest. The nighttime soap became a huge success, with Lamas starring alongside Oscar-winning actress Jane Wyman for 228 episodes.

Wyman portrayed Lamas’ grandmother on the show – at that time, she was a massive Hollywood star. Lamas had problems with illegal substances at this point in his career, until one day on set, Wyman had enough of his behavior

80s Icon Abandons Hollywood to Raise Son in the Countryside—You Won’t Believe What She Does Now

She never thought a trip to the Berkshires would change her life. After all, she was a big Hollywood star, famous for playing a brave heroine in a hit movie. But fate had other plans for her, leading her to a quiet life in the country, new creative projects, and a fresh sense of purpose.

In 1981, an Indiana Jones film took the world by storm, making a little-known actress an overnight sensation. At just 29 years old, she wowed audiences as a strong, adventurous heroine alongside Harrison Ford. This role would forever secure her place in film history.

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In 1981, Karen Allen became famous for her role as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark, starring alongside Harrison Ford. At just 29 years old, she brought strength and wit to the screen. The film became one of the biggest hits ever, making her a household name.

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Despite her fame, Karen chose a different path from many rising stars. After the success of Raiders, she stepped away from Hollywood and took on smaller, more personal projects. People wondered why she didn’t go for bigger roles, but she knew what she wanted.

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Her life changed in 1993 when her son, Nicholas, was three years old. Karen decided to move full-time to the countryside of Massachusetts, leaving behind the fast-paced city life. She felt that staying in one place was better for her and her son, especially as she balanced motherhood and acting.

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Karen’s love for the Berkshires started in 1988 during a ski trip with her then-husband, Kale Browne. They found an old barn on 28 acres of land, and even though it was buried in snow, she felt an instant connection to the house. Five years later, they made the move permanent.

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The countryside provided the perfect environment to raise Nicholas, who grew up with a love for cooking. He eventually became a chef, with his mom always supporting his dreams. Their strong bond is often shared through their love of food.

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While enjoying life in the Berkshires, Karen didn’t leave her creativity behind. She returned to her early love for textiles, a passion she had developed before becoming an actress. In 2005, she opened her business, Karen Allen Fiber Arts, crafting high-quality cashmere items like scarves and sweaters.

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Her shop in Great Barrington became a place where she could explore her love for fabric and design. Using a Japanese knitting machine, she created colorful and intricate designs. Karen described her love for textiles as her “first ecstasy” and found joy in this new creative outlet.

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In addition to her textile business, Karen converted an old barn into a yoga studio in 1995. She embraced yoga, creating a space for herself and her community. Balancing motherhood, yoga, and her textile work, she found a rhythm that suited her life.

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Though Karen kept taking acting roles, her focus shifted to her personal projects. Living in the Berkshires allowed her to reinvent herself, and she embraced this peaceful way of life. She continued acting in select roles in films and theater, while also growing her textile business.

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With her son Nicholas thriving in his career, Karen found more time to return to her love for acting. She especially enjoyed theater, which had been her passion from the start of her career. Even now, at 73, she still accepts roles that inspire her.

Her fans haven’t forgotten her. Comments praising her charm and grace continue to flood in, with many still enchanted by her smile and down-to-earth nature. One fan called her “the absolute cutest,” while another admired how beautifully she has aged.

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Karen’s ability to balance her acting career, creative passions, and personal life has made her a lasting inspiration. Even after stepping away from the limelight, she remains loved and admired for the choices she made and the grace with which she carries herself.

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